Asanas for anxiety

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I’m getting married in a couple of weeks and have suddenly realised that I’m a little anxious - things seem to be piling up in these last few days and I find myself losing my breath!

I’m looking for a handful of asanas and/or breath practises that may help me through the next couple of weeks. I really need simple things that I can do, in the car on the way to the airport, say,or before retiring at night once all of my visitors have gone to bed.

I had a quick look on the internet - one author suggested that anxiety should be valued and appreciated because it gives you the chance to look at what’s going on. I like that idea (and will continue to take deep breaths while I’m paused at the traffic light).

Thanks in advance for your valuable words.

#2

Congratulations. …and…yes, keep up with the breathing exercises…if you want a free CD to help you calm down and relax at night you can download one I made myself here.

#3

Congratulations buggirl!
I find pranayama the best for calming down, especially alternate nostril breathing. I sometimes do it at my desk when I feel the need. (I’m sure my colleagues think I’m odd, but hey ho!) Or concentrate on breathing deep into your belly, make sure you can feel it really expanding when you inhale and contracting in and up when you exhale.

Best of luck with your wedding and try to remember that it is a special day for you and your partner to celebrate you love for each other – nothing much else matters. (in theory at least!)

#4

I don’t know how other people feel about this, but pachimotanasana and uttanasana really calm me down when things are going crazy. When I’m in uttanasana I usually bring a slight bend to the knee and wrap my hands around my neck just to lengthen it out a bit. I could stay like that forever.

And…congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

#5

Thank you all! Great suggestions - easy to do in the hotel room or in the car.

Now I’m all set for the big day!

#6

Hello Buggirl,
wishing you a very nice weddingday. Enjoy it.
Think all the time you are filled and surrounded by your Beloved. That will calm you down for sure.
Namaste louise

#7

I agree: alternate nostril breathing helps with anxiety. Asana wise - I personally like Halasana (possibly supported: legs on a chair, so that you can stay in the pose a little longer) or shoulderstand. I find those inversions very calming and soothing, especially when I surrender my brain to my heart and let the heart lead :slight_smile:

Wishing you a wonderful wedding day! :slight_smile:

#8

Child’s pose with needs wide apart, big toes touching, this is great when you feel overwhelmed physically as well as mentally.

Viparita Karani ( legs up the wall with bolster under sacrum) is excellent as well and great for insomnia.

Check out some websites for restorative yoga. Supported asana’s with props, such as bolsters, blankets, blocks etc.

Good Luck on your Wedding Day! And Congratulations!

#9

Don’t you mean, “asanas for relaxation?”

Okay…just kidding.

In my experience, the best way to get rid of anxiety is not necessarily to mask it with some relaxing asana, but to feel it fully. When you feel anxious, just acknowledge the feeling, and whatever comes with it. If you’re the type that gets knots in your stomach, for example, then feel the knots and acknowledge them as coming from anxiety. When you welcome a negative or painful feeling and feel it fully, it’ll go away on its own.

Liane

yoga.purplebearproductions.net

#10

[quote=Liane;13097] When you welcome a negative or painful feeling and feel it fully, it’ll go away on its own.[/quote]Sometimes it will go away on it’s own but when it doesn’t then I do a relaxation exercise.

#11

Yogi bhajan talks about the three breathing diaphrams and he, as well as many other swamis, seem to believe there is much energy stored in our lowest chakras, especially near the base of the spine. Through my experience I have found much less tension when during a full breath I can expand from my anus up to my head. Yogi bhagan in one of his books talks about the lowest diaphram being near the anus. So with that being said a very powerful practice for me has been this

lie on back and bring feet up by butt so knees will be up in the air and feet flat on the floor. now rock your pelvis, you will feel the base of lower back come up off floor and go back down to the floor. breath in when the lower back arches off the ground and breath out when it comes back to the ground. I do this fairly rapidly so it is almost like a breath of fire exercise, and I do this for a couple minutes then relax for 30 seconds.

when I do the above mentioned exercise I also do this one. sit up straight in your easiest meditation pose. Now putt arms staright out to side, from there bend the elbows to 90 degrees, palms face floor and you hold a fist. NOw when when breath in you have the elbows go behind you and as you breath out the fists come togethor. I do this rapidly as well. Yogi bhajan says this one exercise may possibly change someones whole life, it is a heart opener.

Somedays I only do those two exercises, as they are my favorites, but life is not all about me, it is about you as well :slight_smile: give them a try and if you like them cool, if not at least you gave it a try :wink:
my best to you on your wedding, life is a miracle enjoy everyday

I am love, I am peace, I am joy, I breathe free, I thank the teachers, I am of the one, the same one as you
I am neil and we are us

anyone up for a group hug :wink: